Lighting control for location finding

ABSTRACT

Lighting control for location finding is disclosed. According to embodiments, lighting control can include determining, using a group of location detectors, a first location of a computing device of a user, and obtaining, from the computing device, a target location for the user. Lighting control can include determining a path from the first location to the target location, the path determined at least based on a lighting system including a group of light emitting diode (LED) arrays, and indicating, using a first LED array of the group of LED arrays, a first portion of the path to the target location. The first portion of the path can be indicated by determining, for the plurality of LEDs of the first LED array, at least one LED that is visible at the first location, and outputting light from the at least one LED that is visible at the first location.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the control of a lightingsystem, and more specifically, to the use of the lighting system as away of directing an individual to a location.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method oflighting control for location finding. In embodiments, the method caninclude determining, using a group of location detectors, a firstlocation of a computing device of a user. In embodiments, the method caninclude obtaining, from the computing device, a target location for theuser. In embodiments, the method can include determining a path from thefirst location to the target location, the path determined at leastbased on a lighting system including a group of light emitting diode(LED) arrays. Each LED array of the group of LED arrays can include aplurality of LEDs arranged in a semi-circular formation on a chassis. Inembodiments, the method can include indicating, using a first LED arrayof the group of LED arrays, a first portion of the path to the targetlocation. In embodiments, the first portion of the path can be indicatedby determining, for the plurality of LEDs of the first LED array, atleast one LED that is visible at the first location, and outputtinglight from the at least one LED of the first LED array that is visibleat the first location.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system oflighting control for location finding. In embodiments, the system caninclude a group of location detectors, a group of light emitting diode(LED) arrays, a processor, and a computer readable storage medium. Inembodiments, each LED array of the group of LED arrays can include aplurality of LEDs arranged in a semi-circular formation on a chassis. Inembodiments, the processor can be communicatively connected to the groupof location detectors and to the group of LED arrays. In embodiments,the computer readable storage medium can have program instructionsembodied therewith. The program instructions can be executable by theprocessor to cause the processor to determine, using the group oflocation detectors, a first location of a computing device of a user.The program instructions can cause the processor to obtain, from thecomputing device, a target location for the user and determine a pathfrom the first location of the computing device to the target location.The path can be determined at least based on the group of LED arrays. Inembodiments, the program instructions can cause the processor toindicate, by using a first LED array of the group of LED arrays, a firstportion of the path. In embodiments, being caused to indicate the firstportion of the path includes being caused to determine, for theplurality of LEDs of the first LED array, at least one LED that isvisible at the first location, and cause the first LED array to outputlight from the at least one LED that is visible at the first location.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a computerprogram product for controlling a lighting system. In embodiments, thecomputer program product can include a computer readable storage mediumhaving program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructionscan be executable by a processor to cause the processor to determine,using a group of location detectors, a first location of a computingdevice of a user, and obtain, from the computing device, a targetlocation for the user. The program instructions can be executable by theprocessor to cause the processor to determine a path from the firstlocation to the target location, the path determined at least based on alighting system including a group of light emitting diode (LED) arrays.Each LED array of the group of LED arrays can include a plurality ofLEDs arranged in a semi-circular formation on a chassis. The programinstructions can cause the processor to indicate, using a first LEDarray of the group of LED arrays, a first portion of the path to thetarget location. In embodiments, being caused to indicate the firstportion of the path includes being caused to determine, for theplurality of LEDs of the first LED array, at least one LED that isvisible at the first location, and cause the first LED array to outputlight from the at least one LED that is visible at the first location.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustratedembodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into,and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of thepresent disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative ofcertain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of a system, according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2-9 depict schematic diagrams of a system for lighting control ina shop, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict schematic diagrams of lighting arrays, accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 depicts a flowchart of a method of operating a system oflighting control, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the control of a lightingsystem, more particular aspects relate to the use of the lighting systemas a way of directing an individual to a location. While the presentdisclosure is not necessarily limited to such applications, variousaspects of the disclosure may be appreciated through a discussion ofvarious examples using this context.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, lighting control forlocation finding is disclosed. In embodiments, a method of lightingcontrol for location finding can include determining a first location ofa computing device of a user and obtaining, from the computing device, atarget location for the user. The method can include determining a pathfrom the first location to the target location. The path can bedetermined at least based on a lighting system that includes a group oflight emitting diode (LED) arrays. Described further herein, inembodiments, each LED array of the group of LED arrays includes aplurality of LEDs arranged in a semi-circular formation on a chassis. Inembodiments, the method can include indicating, using a first LED arrayof the group of LED arrays, a first portion of the path to the targetlocation. According to embodiments, the first portion of the path can beindicated by determining, for the plurality of LEDs of the first LEDarray, at least one LED that is visible at the first location andoutputting light from the at least one LED that is visible at the firstlocation.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 10 for lighting control for locationfinding can be seen according to embodiments of the present disclosure.The system 10 can include a location detector 12, a controller 14communicatively connected to the location detector 12 and a lightingsystem 16, which is also communicatively connected to the controller 14.The connections between the devices that make up the system 10 are hereshown as using wired communication network such as Ethernet, but thedevices could also be connected together using a local wirelesstechnology such as WiFi. A combination of wired and wireless connectionscould also be used. In embodiments, the term wireless, as referred toherein, refers to transmitting and/or receiving signals (e.g. data) sentover air. Each device in the system 10 can be autonomous andindividually powered.

In embodiments, the location detector 12 is configured to detect thelocation of a computing device 18 of a user 20. In embodiments, thelocation detector 12 is a short-range wireless beacon that can transmitand receive communications to and from the user's computing device 18.In embodiments, the location detector 12 can work in a wide variety ofdifferent ways. For example, the location detector 12 could use localwireless technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other suitablewireless communication. Based on communications to and from thecomputing device 18, the location detector can determine the approximatelocation of the computing device 18. For example, in some embodiments,the location detector 12 can determine the location of the computingdevice 18 of a user 20 to an accuracy of less than 1 meter.

In embodiments the location detector 12 can be a part of a group oflocation detectors 12. In some embodiments, the group of locationdetectors 12 can include a plurality of location detectors 12 that aredistributed across a geographic area to increase signal coverage over ageographic area. For example, a supermarket or store could include agroup of location detectors 12 distributed throughout the store so thatthe range of each of the wireless beacons cover the entire store.Accordingly, a user 20 entering the store could be more accuratelylocated by their computing device 18 while present in the store. In someembodiments, the group of location detectors 12 could include a singlelocation detector 12.

In embodiments, the controller 14 can be configured to obtain a targetlocation for the user 20 and determine one or more lights of thelighting system 16 that indicate a path to the target location for theuser 20. Described further herein, determining lights to indicate a pathfor the user 20 can include determining one or more visible lights ofthe lighting system 16. In embodiments, the visibility of the lights isdetermined based on the location of the computing device 18 of the user20. In embodiments, the controller 14 can include one or more processorsand memory. The memory can include program instructions executable bythe one or more processors to cause the processor to perform aspects ofthe present disclosure. For example, in embodiments, the controller 14is configured to determine the location of the computing device 18 usingthe location detector 12. In embodiments, the controller 14 isconfigured to determine the target location of the user, and determine apath from the location of the computing device 18 to the targetlocation. In embodiments, the controller 14 can determine the path tothe target location based on the lighting system 16. In embodiments, thecontroller 14 can be configured to transmit instructions to the lightingsystem 16 based on the path.

In embodiments, the lighting system 16 is configured to output lightfrom one or more lights of the lighting system 16 based on instructionsof the controller 14, to indicate a path for the user 20 to the targetlocation. Described further herein, in embodiments, the lighting system16 can include a group of one or more light emitting diode (LED) arrays.Each of the LED arrays can include a plurality of LEDs arranged in asemi-circular formation, positioned on a chassis. The plurality of LEDscan be arranged in the semi-circular formation so that a user 20 canview one or more of the LEDs from a range of viewing angles. In someembodiments, the LEDs can be arranged on the chassis in asemi-hemispherical formation. In some embodiments, the LEDs can bearranged on the chassis in a circular formation on the chassis. Inembodiments, the controller 14 can use the location of the computingdevice 18 to determine one or more of the LEDs on the LED array that arevisible at the location. In embodiments, the controller 14 can cause theLED array to output light from the one or more visible LEDs to indicatea path for the user 20 from their location to the target location. Insome embodiments, the lighting system 16 can include a plurality oflighting arrays constructed using various types of lightingtechnologies.

In embodiments, the computing device 18 can be a mobile computing deviceincluding logic and memory that can be carried by the user 20. Forexample, the computing device 18 could be a smart phone, mobile phone,tablet device, laptop, or other suitable computing device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an example diagram of lighting control forlocation finding can be seen, according to embodiments, of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 2 shows an environment in which the user 20 has entereda shop 22 and the system 10 (FIG. 1) will guide the user 20 to one ormore target locations. Seen in FIG. 2 the target locations are based onarticles in the shop 22 that they wish to buy. However, in variousembodiments, the target locations can be determined based on variousother criteria. In embodiments, the system additionally includes acomputing device reader 24 that is placed at the entrance to the shop22. The reader 24 can be connected to the controller of the system andcan be configured to query the computing device 18 of the user 20 foruser information, in this case a shopping list. A group of locationdetectors 12 includes three beacons, placed in different locationswithin the shop 22 and various lights 26 a-26 d of the lighting system16 (FIG. 1) are shown. In embodiments, the lights 26 a-26 d of thelighting system 16 are individual LED arrays that are part of a group ofLED arrays, as described herein. As described in FIGS. 2-9, the locationof the computing device 18 and the user 20 are assumed to be theapproximately the same. However in some embodiments, the device 18 andthe use 20 may be in separate distinct locations.

Although examples described herein, are described in the context of theuser 20 navigating a shop 22 in order to locate an item 28, the samesystem and methodology can be used in many different applications. Forexample, the system could be employed in a sports stadium where thepurpose of the system is to guide the user 20 to their specific seat orto the correct entrance to the seating area. In some examples, thesystem could also be used in an airport to guide the user 20 to thecorrect departure gate or to the correct baggage collection point, forexample. Another possible implementation of the system could be in ahotel, where the system is designed to direct the user 20 to and fromthe lobby of the hotel via the lift to their room, for example.

In FIG. 2, the user 20 has just entered the shop 22 and the devicereader 24 communicates with the user's computing device 18 to determinethe items that the user 20 wishes to purchase, receiving userinformation from the computing device 18. In embodiments, thisinformation is passed to the controller which determines one or moretarget locations for the user 20. Accordingly, the controller candetermine a path from the location of the computing device 18 to atarget location of the one or more target locations. For example inembodiments, the controller could determine a path from the currentlocation of the user to the closest target location (e.g. item 28)within the shop 22. In embodiments, the controller can determine thepath at least based on the position of lights 26 a-26 d. For example, inembodiments, the path is routed through areas of the store 22 thatinclude lights 26 a-26 d. Since, in embodiments, controller uses lights26 a-26 d to indicate the path, path can be designed to follow thelocations of lights 26 a-26 d throughout the store 22.

At this point none of the lights 26 a-26 d are illuminated. The user 20is assumed to be heading in a forwards direction between the rows ofshelves 30. In embodiments, the location detectors 12 are able to detectthe current location of the computing device 18 as the user 20 movesthrough the shop 22.

In embodiments, the current target location (e.g. item 28) of the user20 is not necessarily the actual final location of the item. Inembodiments, the current target location could be an intermediate point(a waypoint) on the route that has been generated that will lead theuser to the location of the item. As discussed herein, a device readercan query the computing device of the user for user information and thecontroller can determine the target location for the user from thequeried user information. The target location can be a set of waypoints,with the user being led to each waypoint in turn until they have reachedthe final destination.

In FIG. 3, the user 20 has now moved into a position where lights 26 aand 26 b are illuminated. In embodiments, the controller, using locationdetectors 12, can determine that based on the location of the computingdevice 18, lights 26 a and 26 b are visible. Accordingly, the controllercan communicate with the lighting system, including lights 26 a and 26b, to output light from lights at 26 a and 26 b to indicate a firstportion of the path to the target location at item 28. In embodiments,the lights 26 a and 26 b are multi-directional and can be part of an LEDarray as described herein, for example. In embodiments, where lights 26a and 26 b are LED arrays as described herein, the LED arrays can limitlight output from the plurality of LEDs in each light 26 a and 26 blights to LEDs which are positioned in the direction of the computingdevice 18. Accordingly, this can reduce the total light output of lights26 a and 26 b so that the indication of the path to the target locationis visible in the proximity of the user 20.

In FIG. 4, the user 20 has moved into a position at the opening betweentwo rows of shelves 30, guided to that position by the pair of lights 26a and 26 b of the lighting system 16. In embodiments, the controller candetermine that based on the position of the computing device 18, theuser has been successfully guided along the first portion of the path,as described herein. In embodiments, the controller can determine thatthe user 20 has been guided along the first portion of the path based ona proximity threshold of the user 20 to lights 26 a and 26 b. Forexample, in embodiments, the proximity threshold can be selected as avalue which indicates that the user has reached the first portion of thepath as indicated by lights 26 a and 26 b in FIG. 3. In embodiments, theproximity threshold can be selected as various values. For example, inembodiments, the proximity threshold could be selected as five feet fromone or more of lights 26 a and 26 b. Accordingly, once the user 20 islocated within, for example, five feet of the lights 26 a or 26 b, thecontroller can deactivate lights 26 a and 26 b. Controller can then uselights 26 d and 26 c to indicate a second portion of the path to thetarget location at item 28, described further herein.

As shown in FIG. 4, lights 26 c and 26 d are now illuminated to indicatethe target location. As described herein, the controller can indicatethe second portion of the path to the target location by outputtinglight from one or more lights in the direction of the computing device18.

The user 20 approaches the position of the item 28, as shown in FIG. 5.The lights 26 c and 26 d are visible to the user 20 as they enter thespace between the two rows of shelves 30. In embodiments, the lightingsystem uses pairs of lights, such as lights 26 c and 26 d to guide theuser 20 to a location that is in-between the two lights (e.g. the item28 in between lights 26 c and 26 d). In embodiments, the user's 20current location, based on computing device 20, is being monitored inreal time by the three location detectors 12, which feedback to thecontroller.

Once the user 20 has reached the location shown in FIG. 5, then it isassumed that the user 20 has taken the item 28 from the shelf 30, thiscan be confirmed by using a time threshold and a proximity threshold forthe user 20 at the location. For example, in embodiments, once the user20 has spent at least fifteen seconds within five feet of lights 26 cand 26 d, then it is assumed by the controller that the user 20 haspicked up the desired item 28 and has placed that item 28 into theirshopping basket. In embodiments, the controller is able to update theinformation stored for the user 20 in relation to the computing device18, thereby marking the item 28 as purchased.

Although the system 10 as described above functions if the user 20 isonly buying a single item 28 from the shop 22 (e.g. one targetlocation), in many situations the user 20 will actually want to purchaseseveral different items 28 that are located in different parts of theshop 22 (e.g. multiple target locations). In FIG. 6, the controllerdetermines a second path from the location of user 20 to a new targetlocation at a second item 28 b. Accordingly, lights 26 c and 26 d are nolonger illuminated and the lights 26 a and 26 b have turned back on toindicate a first portion of the second path to the user 20.

In FIG. 7, the user 20 has reached the entrance of the current shelves.In embodiments, the user's location is being monitored in real time bythe location detectors 12 which can identify the current position of theuser's computing device 18. This is fed back to the controller whichcontrols the lighting system 16. Lights 26 e and 26 f are nowilluminated, these indicate a second portion of the second path to thetarget location. As described herein, lights 26 e and 26 f are visibleat the user's current location (the location of the computing device18). In FIG. 8, the user 20 moves towards the lights 26 e and 26 f untilit is detected that the user 20 has reached the entrance to the desiredset of shelves 30, shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, once the user 20 has reached the opening of thecurrent set of shelves 30, then the two lights 26 e and 26 f will beturned off and lights 26 g and 26 h will be illuminated, as describedherein. These two lights 26 g and 26 h are used to guide the user 20 tothe desired item 28 b, in a similar manner as was used in guiding theuser 20 to the first item 28. In this way the user 20 can be guided toone or more target locations (e.g. to the various items 28 on the user'sshopping list). In some instances, this can help a user 20 to increasethe speed of navigation while shopping.

In embodiments, the lighting system 16 (FIG. 1) that is used in thesystem 10 (FIG. 1) can provide a lighting output that is able to outputlight in the direction of the user 20 based on the user's currentlocation. This can be achieved using a plurality of individual lightingarrays 32, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of an example lighting array 32 that includesa matrix of individual lights 36 mounted on a curved chassis 34. Inembodiments, the lighting array 32 is an LED system that is designed tobe suspended above the locations being illuminated, for example at aheight of between three to six meters. In the example of FIG. 10,twenty-one different lights 36 form the array 32 in three rows of sevenlights 36. Each column of three lights 36 pointing in the same directioncan be used to direct a user who is close to the array 32 (using thelowest light 36 in the column) and to direct a user 20 who is furtheraway from the array 32 (using the highest light 36 in the column). Inembodiments, lights 36 can be LEDs mounted on chassis 34. As chassis 34can be curved, lights 36 can be mounted in a semi-circular formation onchassis 34, such that each column of lights 36 is pointed in a distinctdirection.

In embodiments, the FIG. 10 embodiment of the lighting array 32 allowstwenty-one different locations to be illuminated, one for each light 36.In embodiments, these locations are mapped to the controller 14 (FIG.1). Different users can be guided to the same location using an array 32such as that shown in FIG. 10. For example, as a user moves towards atarget location, the individual light 36 being lit within the array 32can change to reflect the change in the user's current location. Inembodiments, the lighting array 32 and controller update which light isilluminated to follow the user's current location so that only the areain the general vicinity of the user can see an individual illuminatedlight 36 at any one time. In embodiments, a user's precise location cantherefore be targeted by the lights 36 of the array 32. Other arrays oflights 36 can be used, for example with ten lines of fifty columns, withthe total number being used being dependent on the lighting technologyselected. As described herein, in embodiments, the lights 36 can beindividual LEDs positioned on a chassis 34. According to embodiments,the LEDs can be positioned in a semi-circular formation to covermultiple radial directions from the curved chassis 34.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of an embodiment of a lighting array 42,according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Lighting array 42can include a circular chassis 44 including individual lights 46 mountedon the chassis 44. In embodiments, the individual lights 46 can be LEDs.In embodiments, the more LEDs that can be provided within the lightingarray 42 the greater the granularity that can be provided and the moreindividual locations that can be served by the lights 46 of the lightingarray 42. As described herein, each of the lights 46 within the lightingarray 42 can be mapped to specific locations within a shop 22 (FIG. 2),and as the user 20 moves towards their target location, different lights46 within the array 42 can be illuminated to guide the user 20.

Various lighting technologies can also be used. For example, a laserbased lighting device could be used that can project light onto asurface, such as the floor where the user 20 is currently standing. Adirect beam with persistence of vision (e.g. beaming light at leastevery 1/25^(th) of a second) can be used that can be seen by the user 20as their location changes.

Referring to FIG. 12, a method of lighting control for location findingcan be seen, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Inembodiments, the method includes, at operation 1202, detecting thecurrent location of a computing device of a user. As described herein,the location of the computing device can be determined using locationdetectors. The location detectors can use short range communications toidentify the computing device and determine a location for the device.The method can include, at operation 1204, obtaining a target locationfor the user. As described herein, the target location can be obtainedfrom the computing device of the user. For example, in embodiments, thetarget location could correspond to an item on a shopping list containedin a mobile phone of the user. The method can include, at operation1206, determining one or more lights of a lighting system that indicatethe target location of the user and are visible at the current locationof the computing device of the user. As described herein, the lights caninclude a group of one or more LED arrays. The LED arrays can beconfigured to communicate with a controller to indicate a path from theuser's location to the target location.

The method can include, at operation 1208, outputting light from thedetermined one or more lights of the lighting system that is visible atthe current location of the computing device of the user. As describedherein, the LED arrays can indicate the path by determining one or moreLEDs of the LED array that is visible at the user's location and canoutput light from the one or more LEDs.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, using a groupof location detectors, a first location of a computing device of a user;obtaining, from the computing device, a target location for the user;determining a path from the first location to the target location, thepath determined at least based on a lighting system including a group oflight emitting diode (LED) arrays, each LED array of the group of LEDarrays including a plurality of LEDs arranged in a semi-circularformation on a chassis; and indicating, using a first LED array of thegroup of LED arrays, a first portion of the path to the target location,the first portion of the path indicated by: determining, for theplurality of LEDs of the first LED array, at least one LED that isvisible at the first location; and outputting light from the at leastone LED of the first LED array that is visible at the first location. 2.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining, usingthe group of location detectors, a second location of the computingdevice, the second location within a proximity of the first LED array;and in response to determining that the second location is within theproximity of the first LED array, indicating, using a second LED arrayof the group of LED arrays, a second portion of the path to the targetlocation, the second portion of the path indicated by: determining, forthe plurality of LEDs of the second LED array, at least one LED of thatis visible at the second location; and outputting light from the atleast one LED of the second LED array that is visible at the secondlocation.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:querying the computing device of the user for user information anddetermining the target location for the user from the queried userinformation.
 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:determining, using the group of location detectors, a third location ofthe computing device, the third location within a proximity of thetarget location; determining that the computing device has stayed withinthe proximity of the target location for a predetermined duration; andobtaining, in response to determining that the computing device hasstayed within the proximity of the target location for the predeterminedduration, a new target location for the user.
 5. The method according toclaim 4, further comprising: determining a second path, the second pathfrom the third location to the new target location, the second pathdetermined at least based on the lighting system including the group oflight emitting diode (LED) arrays; and indicating, using a second LEDarray of the group of LED arrays, a first portion of the second path,the first portion of the second path indicated by: determining, for theplurality of LEDs of the second LED array, at least one LED that isvisible at the third location; and outputting light from the at leastone LED of the second LED array that is visible at the third location.